FAQs

When does the school year start and end? 

Unlike many preschools in San Francisco, the Russian Hill School is a year-round school. We are closed for two weeks of summer holidays every August. 

Fall is our most common entry point.  Most families choose to enroll their children in the fall, beginning immediately following the summer break (in late August), to coincide with the traditional beginning of the school year. 

Some families prefer to enroll their children mid-year (for example, if the family recently moved to the area or a child reaches the age that they are eligible to attend preschool). Because our student-to-teacher ratio is so low, 4:1, we aim to hold at least one space open to allow new families to join us mid-year.   

When do I apply?

You may apply at any time. The Russian Hill School admits eligible students on a rolling basis whenever openings become available, and we will consider all applicants who have submitted applications at the time of the opening. 

Fall (late August) is our most common entry point.  While we do not have an application “deadline,” for families who hope to enter school in the fall (late August), we encourage you to submit your applications by December 1 prior to their desired enrollment year. In other words, if you wish to enroll your child for our class beginning in August 2025, we encourage you to apply by December 1, 2024. We do our best to make decisions on our fall positions by the early new year. 

If you are applying to enter mid-year (after September), we will consider your application as space becomes available and subject to eligibility to begin school.

How old must my child be to apply?

There is no age minimum to submit an application.  You may apply at any time. 

For families applying to enter in the fall (August start dates), we will only consider applications for children will be two years and five months by the time they begin preschool. Do you have a younger child? Apply for our toddler program (that starts at age 2), RHS Littles, or join our weekday classes, Foundations, which starts as early as 3 months.

For families who wish to start mid-year, we will consider your application on a rolling basis if your child meets the minimum enrollment age (2 years 9 months) at the time of our opening.

Do you have any current openings?

We are currently accepting applications. If a family is looking for an all-day preschool, RHS is one of the few Preschools that supports working families year round.

We also expect to have one opening in our TK program, which is designed with an emphasis on kindergarten preparedness. Families in our TK program also work closely with the school’s director to identify and apply for their desired kindergarten programs.

Please call us at 415-202-0525 to inquire about current openings.

How old must my child be to attend the RHS preschool program?

Children must be two years and five months old before they begin attending our preschool program. This is a state licensing requirement.

Does my child have to be potty-trained?

Yes, children must be potty-trained before they begin school.  You may apply to RHS before your child is potty-trained, but your child must be comfortable using the toilet and may not wear pull-ups or training pants when they begin attending school. We recognize that accidents do happen, even after children are potty-trained, and friends at RHS keep extra clothes at school for such situations.  If accepted into our program, we will call you approximately one month prior to your enrollment date to confirm that your child is potty-trained. If your child is not ready, we may ask you to defer enrollment because we do not want a child to begin school before they are ready.

What happens when I submit my application?

We will contact you to confirm receipt of your child’s application.  We will also work with you to set up a tour and invite you to community events where you can get to know the school better.

How do I sign up for a tour?

We are a small school and aim to schedule tours for prospective families in the least disruptive way for our students.  We do not host large tour groups. Instead, we will invite the adults in your family to a private tour while school is in session. We are happy to work around your schedule. Please call us at 415-202-0525 for more information about tours.

We also host multiple open houses on weekends throughout the year and you are welcome and encouraged to bring your child to an open house. We will also host a playdate for your child as part of the admissions process.

When is your next open house?

Our next open houses can be found here!

What can I expect at an open house?

You and family, including your children, will be able to explore the school.  Your children are free to play, build, create, or work on an art project. A small number of current parents and their children will also be at school and we encourage you to ask them questions about the RHS community and their experience at the school. 

How do I prepare my child for a playdate?

Your child does not need to prepare for the playdate.  We recommend explaining to your child in advance of the playdate that they will be visiting a school with you where they will meet new grownups (teachers) and new friends (our students).  They may see RHS friends playing with each other inside or outside, working on challenging puzzles, singing or dancing, building, or working on art projects.

Is there a Wait Pool and how does the Wait Pool work?

Yes! Unfortunately, we are unable to accept all of the wonderful families that apply. Interested families will remain in our Wait Pool. We use our Wait Pool to fill openings during the school year, as well as for future year openings.

I have additional questions.  How do I get more information?

Please call us at 415-202-0525 for more information.